Bell, Book, and Scandal

for once kept silent.
    They got out and Jane fumbled for a moment with the gadget they’d given her to lock the doors. She was surprised the car made a pitiful little beep and the lights flashed briefly when she pressed the lock key. “That’s neat, isn’t it? It’s telling me it’s worked. I wonder if it’ll do it when I unlock it as well.“
    “Jane, stop playing with your car and come inside,“ Shelley ordered impatiently.
    It was a very long walk and Jane kept looking back at her car, thinking the thing she liked best about it was the big round headlights. So retro. So 1930s. So pretty. She could have driven it around Gosford Park and felt right at home. But she’d yet to drive in the dark and would have to read the manual to figure out how to turn on the lights.
    “Isn’t it a gorgeous lobby?“ Shelley exclaimed when they walked into the hotel, as if she’d designed it herself. “Jane, pay attention. Forget the Jeep for a bit.“
    It was a great lobby. It was enormous, but cozy at the same time. In spite of vast expanses of marble flooring, covered with what one could mistake for real Oriental rugs, it had lots of comfy seating areas where you could have a private discussion with friends without anybody overhearing you—unless you were yelling.
    “This is really luxurious. Look at these floors. Some of it has fossils, doesn’t it?“
    “I think your imagination is in overdrive,“ Shelley said, dragging her along to the check-in desk, which looked as if it were a huge piece of furniture from a very old castle, except that it was too clean and shiny.
    “Mrs. Nowack,“ the manager said. “That was fast.“
    “We’re in my friend’s new car. This is Mrs. Jeffry, my roommate when we come to the mystery conference.“
    The manager knew which side his bread was buttered on and studied Jane for a moment, clearly noting her and memorizing her name.
    “I’ll escort you ladies upstairs.“
    “No need,“ Shelley said. “I’ve been here often enough to find it myself. Just loan me a key.“
    She led Jane to the most magnificent elevator she’d ever seen. Almost the size of a large room, it was mirrored with dark green glass with a touch of gold, with light green marble in narrow stripes between the mirrors. It had a lush carpet, and there was even a little plush bench you could sit on.
    “I could park my car in this elevator,“ Jane said.
    “Not today, please,“ Shelley said, pushing the button for the top floor. The elevator ascended in absolute silence.
    They stepped out into a very wide hallway. This floor was inlaid with marble as well, this time an off-white with brown speckles. The same quality of runners ran down the middle as the ones in the lobby. It was well lit with lovely lily-like sconces in pinky-mauve glass that were set next to each door.
    They headed left to the far end and Shelley inserted the plastic credit-card-like key. “Voilà!“ she said, pushing Jane ahead of her.
    Jane gasped. She thought the room was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen. Colorful without being gaudy. They’d come first into an enormous parlor with a big dining room table at one end with eight Windsor shield-back chairs. There was a matching server bureau with a fabulous floral arrangement of real flowers. The air in the room was lightly scented by the roses.
    The other end of the parlor was furnished with comfy-looking chair-and-sofa combinations. Three groups, with big coffee tables so a lot of people could sit down and visit and eat or drink without having to balance their plates on their laps.
    “Explore,“ Shelley said. The room was on a corner and light filtered through the windows clear around two sides through sheers. There were what looked like well-lined silk floor-to-ceiling curtains that could be drawn for privacy, even though no building near it was taller.
    Off to the right was a small, exquisite kitchen separated by a serving bar. The stainless steel cabinet doors had a swirly pattern that echoed the lily look of the lighting fixtures in the hall. Jane opened one door and found a vast array of fine glassware. There was a little refrigerator under the counter and next to it a separate ice machine humming along quietly.
    “Come on, Jane. See the rest of it,“ Shelley said, leading the way to the right to a master bedroom. It was as luxurious as the parlor. There was a king-sized bed and a mob of throw pillows; a desk near the window that looked like a genuine antique,